Get to know Solomon Thomas

New general manager John Lynch made a great splash within the first half hour of the NFL draft. He picked up a third-rounder, a fourth-rounder and a third-rounder next year by simply swapping picks with the Bears from second overall to third overall. Then, Lynch chose dynamic Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas with the third overall choice.

After Chicago shockingly took North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall choice, Lynch pounced on Thomas, a player Lynch knows well. After going back to school to finish his degree, Lynch and Thomas shared a Management Science and Engineering class during Thomas’ freshman year.

“I was star struck on my first day of class,” Thomas said of sharing a class with Lynch. He said Lynch inspired him as a student; Lynch sat in the first row and never missed a tutoring session. The two stayed in contact.

On the field, Thomas could be dominant both with stopping the run and chasing the quarterback. He recorded eight sacks and 15 tackles for a loss last year as a junior, and was voted the Morris Trophy Award winner, which is voted on by Pac-12 offensive lineman.

Here are some quick facts about Thomas:

1. His parents were both college athletes, with his father Chris playing basketball at College of Wooster (Ohio) and his mom running track at the same school.

2. Thomas spent years two through seven in Australia, where his father was transferred as an international sales manager for Proctor and Gamble.

3. Lynch and Thomas combined on a project for their class at Stanford and Thomas said Lynch was “studious and diligent.”

4.Thomas was all over Trubisky during the Sun Bowl this year. Thomas sacked Trubisky once and combined for seven overall tackles.

5. Thomas had a conversation with Lynch before the Sun Bowl and Lynch told him to be himself and play well. Thomas took the advice to heart.

6. Thomas returned from Australia with such a thick accent, he needed to go to a speech therapist.